Carper asks for investigation into Pruitt travel

Monday

Dec 18, 2017 at 5:30 PM

Submitted News

Sen. Tom Carper sent a letter Dec.18 to Arthur Elkins, inspector general of the Environmental Protection Agency, requesting he expand his current audit of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s travel to include Pruitt’s recently reported four-day trip to Morocco to promote U.S. liquefied natural gas exports — an issue that does not fall within the jurisdiction of the EPA.

Elkins first opened a formal audit into Pruitt’s travel after a request from Carper to investigate media reports that during the first three months of Pruitt’s tenure, he spent nearly half his time in his home state of Oklahoma. Elkins’ original response to Carper in August stated that EPA’s office of inspector general would review Pruitt’s travel through July 31. On Oct. 6, Elkins announced EPA OIG would expand the scope of the audit to “include all travel by the administrator through Sept. 30.”

“I write to ask you to expand the scope of your current audit regarding Administrator Pruitt’s travel in light of his recent trip to Morocco. This trip reportedly cost taxpayers $40,000, and one purpose of the trip was to promote U.S. liquefied natural gas exports. Specifically, I request that you review the purpose of Administrator Pruitt’s travels to determine whether his activities during each trip are in line with EPA’s mission ‘to protect human health and the environment,’” wrote Carper.

“In light of the Administrator’s recent trip to Morocco, I request that you further expand the scope of your audit to include all travel up to the present, with an examination of whether the purpose of travel is consistent with the EPA’s mission,” wrote Carper.

Affiliated Delaware Papers

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
Hockessin Community News ~ 24 W. Main St., Middletown, DE 19709 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service